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Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Christmas at Epcot: The Candlelight Processional

By Kat Tretina

Each year, Epcot hosts one of Walt Disney World’s most popular events: the Candlelight Processional. This event features a celebrity narrator telling the story of the birth of Jesus, accompanied by a full orchestra and choir. Inside the American Garden Theater, which is in the very center of World Showcase, this is an intimate and beautiful holiday spectacle and a wonderful Christmas tradition for Disney fans the world over. Don't worry if you can't make it this year, here and now on Disney Avenue, we are going to visit this stunning Disney classic and capture a little piece of its magic in today's new article...

What to expect

The Candlelight Processional is wildly popular, especially for beloved celebrities like Neil Patrick Harris or Blair Underwood. People begin to line up in hopes of a seat four to five hours ahead of the show time; most end up disappointed because the theater can only hold about 1,000 people.

Once seated, you will enjoy a vibrant and joyous performance, with traditional Christmas carols mixed with modern favorites. It is an event that is sure to make you feel the holiday spirit.

Candlelight Processional Dining Packages

About seventy-five percent of the theater seats are reserved for guests who purchased a dining package and it’s highly recommended you buy one yourself, particularly if you have your heart set on seeing a particular celebrity. For the very popular celebrities—like Neil Patrick Harris—dining packages sell out several months in advance, so book early. Even hosts like Meredith Vieira draw huge crowds...

Through the dining package, you book a meal for lunch or dinner at one of Epcot’s restaurants and at the end of your meal, you receive special passes that guarantee you seating in the theater for a specific showing...

For those who can’t stomach waiting in line for several hours, the dining package is a great deal. Even with the dining package, it’s recommended you arrive 45 minutes to an hour before the show time to get a good seat, but that’s only to give you the best view of your favorite celebrity.

The Candlelight Processional is still available, with showings through December 30:

America Ferrera: December 15 to 17, 2015Chandra Wilson: December 18 to 20, 2015Daniel Dae Kim: December 21 to 23, 2015Edward James Olmos: December 24 to 26, 2015Blair Underwood: December 27 to 28, 2015Amy Grant: December 29 to 30, 2015

If you can't make it out to this year's 2015 shows, below you can watch the complete 2012 show in full. Merry Christmas everyone!

-Kat

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Kat Tretina is a freelance writer living and working in Celebration. Originally from Philadelphia, she's been a lifelong Disney fan. The queen of obscure Disney trivia (do you know how many horses are at Disney World? Surprisingly, around 85!), she and her husband moved to Celebration to escape the cold and enjoy life at the happiest place on earth.

Kat's favorite place in Disney is Animal Kingdom, especially the walking trails right at park opening. The animals have just been let out, so that's when you are most likely to see the tigers playing or swimming and the meerkats scurrying around.

Kat specializes in the latest news and developments at Disney World as well as budget friendly tips to get the most out of your trip. To see more of Kat's work, visit her personal site www.ktretina.com.